Buyers for the plants say that the number of prime cattle on offer this week has tightened noticeably and that has firmed some base quotes.

U-3 grades are at 324p for steers and 324p and 326p for heifers.

With numbers tight, regular suppliers are in a position to get more from the market.

The pressure on supplies is expected to last until the end of the year.

The mixed weather during August has exacerbated the issue, with grass-fed cattle slow to finish.

The tighter numbers are reflected in last week’s kill when only 7,031 cattle were slaughtered, down 450 head on the previous week and the lowest kill since the July holiday week.

Compared with previous years, this is 1,000 less than both 2014 and 2013, and 1,800 less than the same week in 2012.

Imports of cattle for slaughter from the south last week were 423 head.

Some 365 head went south and 155 went across to Britain. Prices there are reported to have stabilised over the past week after easing back during much of August.

Quotes in the north of England are around 355p/kg for R4s.

Quotes in the south of England lag these prices by about 10 to 15p/kg.

The prices paid last week in NI were up slightly, with steers and heifers averaging 322.8p/kg. Top-grading U3 steers averaged 330.9p/kg, with U3 heifers at 336p/kg.

The fat cow quotes are steady and the best quote is now at 250p for an R grade and 240p/kg for an O+ grade cow. However, farmers report that 260p/kg is widely available for continental type cows.

At the other end of the trade, good numbers of dairy cows continue to come forward, many straight out of the parlour and grading P1. A total of 1,804 cows were slaughtered last week, down slightly on the recent peaks of 2,000 cows per week.

Lamb trade

The fat lamb trade is dull this week, with quotes in the plants at 305p/kg for 21kg or £64/head. In the marts, buyers were cautious and prices were down. In Kilrea, 621 lambs sold from 260p to 276p, down 16p for the main range of weights, but down 35p for lighter lambs. Massereene sold 964 head from 260p to 300p down 5p/kg. In Saintfield, 702 sold from 260p to 306p, up by 2p to 6p/kg. Very good Texel cross lambs at 23.2kg made £61.50/head or 265p/kg. In Rathfriland 1,005 lambs sold from 258p to 316p and averaged 278p, down 9p/kg. In Ballymena, Wednesday, the trade was dull, with limited activity by southern buyers. Good-quality Texel and Suffolk lambs at 23kg made £62, 24kg made £63 and heavier lambs at 28kg made £65. Fat ewes prices are steady, with top prices of £101 in Newtownstewart, £103 in Omagh, £85 in Kilrea, £80 in Massereene, £93 in Saintfield and £99 in Rathfriland.